Bridge: Build or Burn (2022)
BUILDING a BRIDGE of COMPASSION
October 2, 2022 • Jeremy Helmuth • Luke 7:11–17
Jesus is a bridge from heaven to earth. He came to this earth more than 2,000 years ago to rescue people from their sin. His heart glowed with a light no other human has ever had. He deeply cared for everyone around Him. He healed people, pointed people in the right direction, stopped to love people, and protected the broken-hearted. We can learn so much from Jesus! It is our hope that through this series you will fall even deeper in love with Christ and you will become more like Him in everything you say and do. Hopefully you will be filled with awe and praise God through these stories as you see that “God has come to help His people” (Luke 7:16).
BUILDING a BRIDGE of LIGHT
October 9, 2022 • Jeremy Helmuth • Luke 24:13–35
One of the most overlooked stories in the account of Jesus is the Road to Emmaus. The men that were walking right beside Jesus after His resurrection knew all of the puzzle pieces and yet could not quite comprehend the identity of Jesus. Cleopas and his friend rebuked themselves after Jesus left them and said this to each other: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us” (Luke 24:32)? Do you know anyone who struggles with noticing Jesus? How can their eyes be opened? What needs to happen in their life? You will walk away knowing how to start a discussion with someone whose heart is burning with a desire to know the truth.
BUILDING a BRIDGE of FORGIVENESS
October 16, 2022 • Jeremy Helmuth • Luke 9:51–56
Whenever we face opposition, a natural response is to burn the bridge and move on with our life. Have you ever found yourself praying for God to pour His wrath upon someone (or a group) because of how they hurt you or engaged in evil towards others? Have you ever felt like James and John when they asked Jesus, “Do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them” (Luke 9:54)? Learn how Jesus dealt with hostile people. Follow the example of Jesus, who shielded Himself from evil and yet remained soft-hearted.
BUILDING a BRIDGE to SEE CLEARLY
October 23, 2022 • Jeremy Helmuth • Mark 8:22–26, Mark 10:46–52
Mark presented two separate episodes of Jesus healing blind men. The first blind man was healed through a process. He couldn’t see clearly right away, but eventually, he could. The next healing focused on the fact that everyone has desires, but we often keep them to ourselves. How would you answer Jesus if He asked you, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51)? Being able to answer this question can bring clarity to what we want in this life. God truly wants to meet our needs, but His priority is for you to see your needs clearly. Learn how to help someone who is spiritually blind see the light of God by asking them the right questions.
BUILDING a BRIDGE of FAITH
October 30, 2022 • Jeremy Helmuth • Mark 10:46–52
A superficial reading of the miracle of blind Bartimaeus receiving his sight seems basic and simple. That is until you start to dig into the details of the story. Learn the secret to how someone secures salvation, versus those who remain lost on the side of the road.
BUILDING a BRIDGE towards an ETERNAL PURPOSE
November 13, 2022 • Jeremy Helmuth • John 9
One of the main reasons people turn away from God and reject the entire concept of a loving, personal supernatural being is the problem of suffering. Many atheists and agnostics became skeptics because of terrible events in their life that could not be explained. How can you answer someone when they ask “Why” during a tragedy? Can you with confidence help them understand our purpose in life and how everything we journey through allows us to glorify God?
BUILDING a BRIDGE towards WHOLENESS
November 20, 2022 • Jeremy Helmuth • John 5:1–15
Have you ever heard someone state that they wish they could get better, but they remain right where they are? They want to want a “well-heart”, but they hold onto unforgiveness and bitterness. They want a “well body”, but they neglect their health. They want a “well-mind”, but they fill it with negative and critical thoughts. They want to be rescued from the consequences of their sin, but they don’t want to surrender their soul to Jesus Christ. Jesus asked this invalid, “Do you want to get well” (John 5:6)? Of course he did! But did he really want to get well spiritually? Learn how to ask yourself and others deep, heart-piercing questions so that those you care about can genuinely get well spiritually, emotionally, and mentally so that they can be complete in Christ.
BUILDING a BRIDGE of KINDNESS
November 27, 2022 • Jeremy Helmuth • Mark 1:40–45, Luke 17:11–19
Someone who had leprosy during the time of Jesus was ostracized and condemned to live a lonely life outside of the realm of society. People believed that lepers were unclean physically and they were that way because God was punishing them for a sin they had committed. But Jesus was counter-culture and showed compassion to many lepers. “Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man” (Mark 1:41). The heart of Jesus was to reach out to those who were hurting and desolate. Does that describe your heart? What are the keys to developing a heart like this? Filled with care and concern for others?
BUILDING a BRIDGE of SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
December 4, 2022 • Jeremy Helmuth • Mark 5:21–43, Matthew 9:18–26, Luke 8:40–55
One of the most heart-touching stories in the Gospel accounts IS about a girl who died at age 12 and a woman who had “bleeding issues” for 12 years. The way this story is woven together by God shows us so many incredible truths about Jesus. Walk away from this sermon with a renewed understanding of Christ’s power, patience, and awareness of those who were struggling with awful realities.